I don't think there's a cookie cutter lifestyle to apply to all writers. It would be like saying all stay-at-home moms are great cooks or fantastic at keeping their homes spotlessly clean. With that said, I do think when we're wrapped up in a story we're writing we could allow it to take over our life if we were to let it. Writing seems to come to me in waves. When I'm hot and in the zone, so to speak, all I want to do is write. I don't want to watch TV or movies. I don't want to do any of my … [Read more...]
Day 167: Writing Space as a Metaphor
It's interesting that in life how different we all really are. No two people will do something the same way. Even as writers, we must remember to be true to ourselves instead of trying to copy another writer as it will come off fake. In the end, we must keep our own voices when we write. Reader can tell when we don't. Well, my writing space, typically, is in my living room in my big comfy cozy rocker/recliner with my feet up, my lapdesk on my lap with my laptop on top of that, my mousepad and … [Read more...]
Day 144: Drinking, Bloating, and Not Writing
In life, there can be so many distractions from husbands to our children to our families to our jobs to our things to do around our house to the church we might be attending to the things we do in everyday life to even just ourselves. I'm sure if I were to ask any of you the distractions you face on either a daily, weekly or monthly basis, I'm sure we'd have quite a few. For myself I know I can come up with many. I think my biggest distraction is myself. It seems like I can come up with a … [Read more...]
What Autumn Brings
In the past when I thought about autumn, or fall, I’d think about how the leaves started to change bring about all the beautiful colors. The vivid reds, oranges, and golds. Or how about the weather and temperature changes. In the lower 48, the temps have changed a whole lot yet, but they are starting to make their decent downward as we make our way towards winter. The mountain peaks, if you live by them, have started to show snow on the tops. It’s a beautiful site to behind. As we drive out … [Read more...]
Day 131: Do Not Try This at Home
Well, this is a little different. There are so many things where there is a warning, especially on TV, where it says, “Do Not Try This At Home.” I think of that movie “Jack (you know the word)” where there is a guy who I guess does a bunch of really stupid things. Personally, I’ve never seen this movie and really never want to either. Dare devils who do their death-defying stunts. And you’re like, “Yeah right would I try that at home. I’m sane.” LOL Or how about those who go after things like … [Read more...]
Volunteers: A Priceless Commodity
Being a volunteer. Do we really know what our time means to someone else when volunteer our time? Sometimes I think we take for granted what some people do. Not that we do it on purpose, but we all get busy with our own lives. Things happen. For example, think of all the people it takes to run a single church. There are only a few paid positions. The pastor. The church secretary. Maybe one or two associate pastors. If the church is big enough, a youth pastor. But that might be about it. Think … [Read more...]
Day 126: The Art of Finding Solitude
What a concept. Finding solitude can be difficult sometimes, especially if you are married and have kids at home. There always seems to be some kind of interruption that can stop you in the middle of whatever you are doing. Or sometimes we do it to ourselves. The phone rings and you feel you must answer it. The TV is on and just can’t break away from whatever is on. The radio is on and you just can’t stop singing along to the music. Or a million and one other distractions that interrupt for what … [Read more...]
Day 119: Stillness
For me, I like to write in complete silence. No TV on. No music playing in the background. This is what works for me. My mind is clear. The words flow forth. I tend to get distracted if anything is happening around me. Writing in silence helps me to be a better writer. It’s the stillness around me that helps my creative juices to really flow forth. Sometimes as a parent we need that stillness, or quiet time, away from our children. It’s not that we don’t love them or don’t want them. We just … [Read more...]
Day 94: Lighting Candles
Or better said having a ritual that works for you with whatever you do. I talked about habits yesterday. They can take time to form. Whereas rituals are things you do when you do something on a regular basis. For example, when I write I sit in my big comfy-cozy rocker-recliner. I put the footrest up. I have my college ruled binder paper plus my PhD .7mm lead mechanical pencil. The TV is off and no music is playing in the background. The only noises around me are the one talking to me in my … [Read more...]
W is for Walk
I swear Mari thought to herself, "Why walk when you can run," Sometimes I forget how much Mari was constantly on the run. She'd be watching TV and she'd run around while flapping her arms in excitement. Or reading a book and running around while she did it. Or playing with some toy that could make as much noise as possible and run around excited by the noise. It just didn't take much for her to run as you could see the freedom it gave her. So the next time you are feeling a little blue, try … [Read more...]
